GB1567199A

GB1567199A - Packing

Info

Publication number: GB1567199A
Application number: GB5323676A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Beldam Packing and Rubber Co Ltd
Current assignee: Beldam Packing and Rubber Co Ltd
Priority date: 1977-05-16
Filing date: 1977-05-16
Publication date: 1980-05-14

Description

(54) PACKING (71) We, THE BELDAM PACKING & RUBBER COMPANY LIMITED of Pilot Works, Windmill Road, Brentford, Midd'e- sex TW8 9NG a British Company, do hereby declare the invention for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to packings and has particular but not exclusive reference to packings for use between the lid and body of a tank, for sealing the lid.

The parkings in use at present for sealing the lids of tanks used to contain solvents and other liquid chemicals are in general made from plaited asbestos yarn impregnated with polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). Although these are resistant to most of the chemicals normally encountered, for example, in industrial or marine applications, the packings rapidly acquire a set and consequently leakage can occur after a lid (for example, a ship's cargo tank cover). has been opened and closed several times during service. Such packings are manufactured in a continuous length and are cut to the required length of the lid before being fitted. This means that leakage can also occur at the join, particularly if this is not accurately cut or if shrinkage occurs during service thereby allowing the join to open.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a packing, the ends of which can be welded together to form an endless seal, and which is resilient so that it will fully recover its initial shape when sealing pressure is released, and will not acquire a permanent set.

According to the invention, the packing comprises a resilient core, a body of fibrous material and a physically protective outer layer, preferably braid, at least one component of the packing being made of a weldable thermoplastic material.

Preferably, at least one layer of substantially impervious flexible sheet, film, tape or the like is provided between the body and the outer braid.

The core may, for example, be made from a rubber. The core may have an outer covering of impervious flexible sheet, film tape or the like between it and the fibrous body of the packing.

The drawing accompanying the Provisional specification shows, by way of example only, a cross section of a preferred form of packing embodying the invention.

The illustrated packing has a resilient chemically resistant rubber core 1, which may for example, be a hollow rubber extrusion as illustrated, soft solid rubber, or sponge rubber.

The core constitutes a resilient internal cushion.

The core is preferably wrapped with PTFE tape 2 to protect the core against any chemicals which may penetrate the outer regions of the packing.

Enclosing the wrapped core is a body 3, for example, of braided or plaited chemically resistant fibrous material, for example, polypropylene or other synthetic fibre or yarn.

The body preferably has a wrapping of spirally or longitudinally arranged tape 4 in one or more layers, made of PTFE or other chemically resistant material, to give protec tion against attack or contamination by chemicals contained in a vessel or container to which the packing is to be applied. The packing, and in particular the outer tape layer, is protected from physical damage, by a fine outer braid 5 of mechanically and chemically resistant yarn, for example, PTFE, polypropylene or asbestos.

The packing described is resistant to commonly encountered chemicals and will not become soft when contacted thereby. Conversely it will not contaminate liquid chemicals commonly encountered, for example, in tankers and bulk cargo vessels.

For service which is known to be less arduous, simpler forms of packing can be used. The tape wrappings and braid can be omitted and the exterior of the packing can be covered with a vulcanised synthetic rubber or similar protective coating.

The cross sectional shape of the packing can be square, rectangular, circular or any other shape required for a particular application.

In use, the packing will in general form a closed loop fitted into a groove of a lid or cover, or a groove surrounding an opening of a container to be closed by a lid or cover.

To form a closed loop, the cut ends of the packing can be welded together, for example, by placing the end faces of the packing on a hot plate or other suitable heating device at a temperature to melt the thermoplastic constituents of the packing, for example, the synthetic fibre of the body, and forcing the end faces together to form a weld. To protect the weld region, the outside of the packing can be wrapped with a layer of PTFE tape which in turn is protected by a winding of PTFE yarn.

The welding of the packing to form a closed loop can be carried out on site, or packings can be supplied ready welded by the manufacturer or supplier.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:- 1. A resilient packing comprising a resilient core, a body of fibrous material, and a physi calls protective outer layer, at least one component of the packing being made of a weldable thermoplastic material.

2. A packing as claimed in claim 1 in which the protective outer layer is a protective coating.

3. A packing as claimed in claim 1 in which the protective outer layer is a braid.

4. A packing as claimed in claim 3, wherein at least one layer of substantially impervious flexible sheet, film, tape or the like is provided between the body and the outer braid.

5. A packing as claimed in claim 4, wherein the said at least one layer consists of PTFE.

6. A packing as claimed in claims 4 or 5, wherein the braid consists of PTFE, polypropylene or asbestos.

7. A packing as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the core has an outer covering of impervious flexible sheet, film tape or the like between it and the fibrous body of the packing.

8. A packing as claimed in claim 7, wherein the said outer covering consists of PTFE.

9. A packing as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the core is composed of a rubber.

10. A packing as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the body consists of thermoplastic fibre or yarn.

11. A packing as claimed in any preceding claim in the form of an endless loop made by welding together the thermoplastic material of the packing at the ends of a length of the packing.

12. A resilient packing substantially as herein described with reference to the drawings accompanying the Provisional Specification.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. closed loop fitted into a groove of a lid or cover, or a groove surrounding an opening of a container to be closed by a lid or cover. To form a closed loop, the cut ends of the packing can be welded together, for example, by placing the end faces of the packing on a hot plate or other suitable heating device at a temperature to melt the thermoplastic constituents of the packing, for example, the synthetic fibre of the body, and forcing the end faces together to form a weld. To protect the weld region, the outside of the packing can be wrapped with a layer of PTFE tape which in turn is protected by a winding of PTFE yarn. The welding of the packing to form a closed loop can be carried out on site, or packings can be supplied ready welded by the manufacturer or supplier. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:-

1. A resilient packing comprising a resilient core, a body of fibrous material, and a physi calls protective outer layer, at least one component of the packing being made of a weldable thermoplastic material.